The Latest Breaking News from Rocco Baldelli

MINNEAPOLIS — As big-dog moves go, as a way to remove any doubt about who's in charge, it's hard to beat the effect that 876 feet of home runs in the first 10 minutes can have.

MINNEAPOLIS — Derek Falvey, the Twins' president of baseball operations, said he won't pass judgment on his unvaccinated players.

DETROIT — Royce Lewis' triumphant return to the big leagues didn't even last a full game.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Maybe Gary Sanchez is too shy to chat with first basemen. Maybe he's annoyed by first-base coach Hank Conger. Maybe 90 feet just strikes him as too short a workout.

OAKLAND, Calif. — As he defended the Twins' demotion of Royce Lewis to the minors on Wednesday, Rocco Baldelli felt the need to throw in a timely reminder.

MINNEAPOLIS — The injury that has caused the Minnesota Twins to frequently rest star center fielder Byron Buxton is patella tendinitis in his right knee, which is painful and requires daily treatment. The injury hurts even more when he swings than when he sprints, although decelerating is also problematic.

MINNEAPOLIS — Devin Smeltzer did everything he could to make the Twins' Opening Day roster. The lefthander left his fourth and final spring start April 2 having not allowed a run all camp. But by the next day, he found himself back on the Class AAA staff instead.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Twins rolled into Tropicana Field Friday with a seven-game winning streak and a handful of familiar faces, including former Rays such as manager Rocco Baldelli and pitchers Chris Archer, Emilio Pagan and Joe Ryan.

MINNEAPOLIS — New-age manager Rocco Baldelli went old-school on Throwback Thursday: For the first time in his career, he called for two sacrifice bunts — in one inning, no less. And they wound up fueling the put-away inning in the Twins' seventh consecutive victory, 7-1 over the Tigers at Target…

Three Minnesota baserunning mistakes were sprinkled throughout the wildest final play of the MLB season. And the team still won.

BOSTON — Byron Buxton appeared in his 500th game with the Twins on Friday. Perhaps out of habit, the Twins fear it might be awhile before he plays his 501st.